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I've lived and visited Thailand quite a few times over the years and have also attended a few cooking classes. HOWEVER, today I discovered a woman in Bangkok who teaches authentic Thai cooking in her home - she offers one on one teaching in her own kitchen.

She told me that I could choose three items from her large menu that I wanted to learn how to prepare. I never had a choice of what I want to learn how to cook in any other class I've taken. The price is 2,000 baht. ($50 US) She lives close to the Bangkok Bus Station which is very easy to get to because it is one of the scheduled stops on the Sky Train. Check out her web site: Thai Home Cooking If there is any interest out there let me know and I'll give you an update after my 12 Nov 07 cooking class in her home.

You don't want to hear about my trip but I will post a few items I think were different and worth sharing when I return home to the US next week. From what I've read on this forum there are a few experts out there - And a few know it all too, but I won't politely comment unless they are really giving out the wrong information.

For the record - I've done just about every tour there is possible in Bangkok and have visited Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. I lived in Thailand for six years (i.e. Pattaya Beach when there was absolutely no bars at all and only one hotel - Nippa Lodge) My X-American wife and I lived on the beach in Pattaya, in a lovely home for dirt cheep.(It's long gone) I speak excellent Thai and love the food and the people. I try to come back to Thailand for a visit every November. I usually travel alone. Some of my friends and co-workers say they want to come here with me but when it comes down to it, they never seem to be able to make it. I am not an expert on islands, but I can tell you how to cook a mean cow-pot (fried rice) or catch the bus to Udorn. That's me in a nut shell...

I would love to have seen places like Pattaya then it must have been great. i don't think that your experience and knowledge would fit in a nut shell.
Would you consider writing something up about what life was like living for those 6 years in attaya at that time. I would be really interested, and I know that others would be as well.
It must make such a difference being able to speak the language.
Always on the look out for information and the recounting of experiences.
Where is home in the US?
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Jackie

Thanks for the kind words. I live near Boston Massachusetts, USA. Two of my years living in Thailand were spent at Udorn. I re-visited there a few years ago. It has changed also - I think for the better. Udorn is really not a vacation location but a nice place to visit before going on to Laos. Specially if you took the train or bus from Bangkok you'll want a little R&R break. But you can fly there also. Maybe I will put a short as it was about Pattaya new thread out there later on. Thanks for the suggestion. Meanwhile watch this thread for my upcoming private cooking classes experience scheduled for next Monday (12 Nov 07)

Yesterday I went to my "one on one" Thai cooking lesson at Mrs. Angsana Andersson's home in Bangkok. As I mentioned earlier it was a 20 minute sky train ride from Selom Road. She is Thai and is married to a Swedish citizen. They have one young son who was in school while I was there and they are expecting a daughter early spring. The lessons were their home.

Her English is very good. She's easy to communicate with and the fact that you are not in a group session gave me lots of opportunities to ask lot of questions. Her Mom, who is also very sweet came in to help with the clean up and I asked her to join us lunch.

Angsana asks you what you would like to prepare when you schedule your visit. It's up to you: I choose three dishes: Sweet Green Chicken Curry (Gaeng Khiaw-waan Gai), Pat-Thai, and Barbecued Pork Skewers with Peanut Sauce (Moo Satay)...

I did the cutting, the slicing, cooked on here stove and back yard barbecue. She lets you get right in there. We made all of our own curry pastes and the peanut sauce too. (which is to die for with the pork BBQ)

When everything was ready the three of us sat at her dining table and ate and ate and ate. This was another great opportunity to ask questions about other dishes or Thailand in general.

I was at her home for three and a half hours and hated to leave. It was so different than the other Thai Cooking Classes I've taken that were structured. A great experience - if you want to learn how to prepare your favorite dish I highly recommend you call for an lesson.

Her website: thaihomecooking.com - I made my arrangements over the telephone shortly after arriving in Bangkok. Her phone number when dialing within Thailand is 08 1455 5808. E-mail address: angsana@thaihomecooikng.com . Tell her Sue-Tape sent you!

This sounds really good and a lot different from the run of the mill type lessons. I would rather put money back in like this than in to big conglomorate hotels.
Like the idea of picking what you want to cook as well as every one has their favorites.
Would like the recipie for the peanut sauce - my husband has a fetish for it!
Thanks for the post Richard.